In the Service of the King Part 4: Utilizing All That is Entrusted to You

Introduction

Over the past three weeks we have taken a journey on the Gifts of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit of God, One of the Three Persons of the Trinity. Not a lesser god nor a force. He is critical in our salvation as He convicts us of our sin before we are saved and after. He opens our blinded eyes to the truth of the Gospel. He regenerates us, seals us, adopts us into God’s family, and dwells inside of each believer in Jesus Christ. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. We have been bought with a price, the blood of Jesus Christ and now we are a dwelling for the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

We have discovered that Holy Spirit gives us gifts that we need to unwrap and grow. The purpose for the equipping of the saints and for the edification and building of the church. This is to grow as the Body of Christ and to reach the lost for Jesus Christ.

Natural Talents, Skills, Traits in tandem with Spiritual Gifts

We have looked at the fact that Spiritual Gifts are not personality traits, nor does someone who is say a teacher in a high school or a professor in college have the spiritual gift of teaching. Nor does it mean that a person who extroverted and a great public speaker has the gift of pastor-teacher. However, many times God will use natural talents, skills, and traits in tandem with spiritual gifts. There might be overlap or God might use the most unlikely of people for the proclamation of the Gospel. Look at the Apostle Paul. He had some natural abilities and skills and traits that God used, yes, but he was also someone who many would think is very unlikely to be an Apostle. God sometimes uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise.

1 Corinthians 1:20–31 NKJV

Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

We look at examples of the people that Jesus chose to be His disciples and apostles. They were the most unlikely of people. Peter, a bouncer like person who was a fisherman. James and John being business men who were a bit hot headed (they were called the Sons of Thunder), Matthew the tax collector. Working for the hated Roman Empire. Simon the Zealot, wanted to overthrow the Roman government. The Apostle Paul, a persecutor of the church.

Look at the early church.

Acts 4:1–22 NKJV

Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them, being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand. And it came to pass, on the next day, that their rulers, elders, and scribes, as well as Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and as many as were of the family of the high priest, were gathered together at Jerusalem. And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders of Israel: If we this day are judged for a good deed done to a helpless man, by what means he has been made well, let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole. This is the ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves, saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in this name.” So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.

This is the same Peter that denied even knowing Jesus only weeks earlier now boldly by the power of the Holy Spirit preaching the Word.

Acts 4:13 “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”

The boldness and confidence of Peter and John. They didn’t have the talents, the skills, or the education. Yet, they had been with Jesus. God can take us and use us for His glory. He might take the talents He has also given to you and combine them with the spiritual gifts. Or He might have given you gifts that will take you way out of your comfort zone. It is all about Him.

Spiritual Gifts in Operation (Review)

Last week we looked through Spiritual Gifts we see in operation still today. I mentioned that some gifts we believe have gone out of operation, which we will look at in a moment. I just want to look briefly a way of review of the gifts we looked from Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4. Remember these are gifts of the Holy Spirit not personality traits, talents, or skills. Sometimes they can overlap, but it is not always the case.

Evangelism

All believers are called to evangelism, but there are some that have a gift of evangelism. Where they can share the Gospel easily.

Pastor / Pastor-Teacher

Gift to elder/shepherd to shepherd a flock entrusted to them and teach them. Jesus is the Good Shepherd and those who have the spiritual gift of pastor-teacher have a gift to shepherd part of God’s flock.

Exhortation

To admonish, encourage, comfort or cheer.

Teaching

A gift of teaching. Explaining God’s truth in clear manner.

Utterance of Wisdom

Putting knowledge into practice. Practical use of knowledge.

Utterance of Knowledge

1 Corinthians: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Gift of Knowledge

refers to perceiving and understanding the truths of God’s Word

Administration

Leadership / Organization

Giving

Being used by God in material ways and lead to give.

Service/Ministry

Many times people like trustees and deacons have this gift 2 Timothy 1:18 “The Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and you know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus.”

Those who come along side and serve with others.

Helps

Once again someone who comes along side and helps and assists other believers. Sometimes it is in the background. Fixing things and serving (might be hand in hand with Service/ Ministry)

Mercy

Showing mercy and compassion like Jesus did. Many times in humanitarian ways.

Faith

We all have faith, but this a special faith granted by the Holy Spirit.

This is a broad overview of what we looked at last week.

Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts

One of the things that many ask about is: How do I discover my spiritual gifts?

Tests

There are several spiritual gift inventory tests. Where they will ask you a series of questions. You can do this online these days. On the handout in your bulletin there is a website that was created by Chip Ingram of Living on the Edge that is a good way to begin your journey.

Discussions with other Believers

But still two other ways might be even more useful. Sit down with another believer or two whom you have known and have them share what gifts they have seen in you.

Learn Gifts by Doing / Praying for the Gifts

When you see a need in our church or in our community. Volunteer and ask God to equip you. Remember it is not about you, but Him. Pray and put feet on your prayers.

Parable of the Talents

Matthew 25:14–30 NKJV

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 18

18:24 ten thousand talents The servant owes roughly 150,000 years’ worth of wages—an absurdly insurmountable debt intended to shock Jesus’ listeners and pale in comparison to the much smaller amount demanded by the servant in v. 28. The Greek text’s reference to 10,000 talents represents the largest number used in ancient calculations and the highest monetary unit at that time (one talent was equivalent to 15 years’ worth of wages

One talent = 5000 days of wages.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 25

five talents The Greek text indicates an amount equal to 75 years

Are we using all that God has given to us. Our time, talents, treasure and spiritual gifts?

Conclusion/Application

As I concluded the first sermon I read the poem by CT Studd entitled “One Life.” You have been given a new life in Christ. You have been brought into His family. The same power that rose Jesus from the dead lives inside of you. You were given spiritual gifts, skills, talents, time, and treasure for this ONE LIFE. Whether you have been given a lot (5 talents) some (2 talents) or very little (1 talent) are you making use of the time and the resources that the Master has entrusted to you?